Cathedral College of the Immaculate Conception - Annual Yearbook (Brooklyn, NY)

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OOCATI-IEDRA.L C OLLEG FIRST YEAR - SECTION ONE N I , En FIRST YEAR - SECTION TWO 78

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ANNUAL 1,936 0 0 the world. Incidents such as these used to be isolated and extraordinary, but Hitler has taken full advantage of the power of the artist's caustically sarcastic pen. These magazines are now visible on every newsstand and are openly sold to passengers on the trains from the platforms. This, however, might not be so bad if it were kept so. But such is not the case. The cartoons are made of an enormous size and are given over to the Brown Shirts for their Sunday afternoon parades, during the progress of which they flaunt them before the eyes of citizens, Protestant, Iewish or Catholic, while they with all their bravado shout for the downfall of all three. These cartoons depict priests as subverters of the people, monsters stealing into the homes of people, radicals of the Pope. In their stupidity, the Nazi leaders forget that 'THIS KINGDOM IS NOT OE THIS WORLD , they don't think of the fact that the House of Peter seeks not temporal power but the conversion of souls to Christ. May we take time here to quote Count Apponyi on the subject of Fascism? I-Ie says in his MEMOIRS, Fascism organizes work with the object of pre- venting any relapse, even of individuals, BELOW THE LEVEL WHICH IS PROPER TO MAN. It keeps open the path by which anyone may attain, through moral strength and conspicuous achievement, to positions of distinc- tion. WITHOUT WEAKENING INDIVIDUAL CHARACTER, from which all great deeds spring, IT SEEKS TO FIGHT THE ABUSES OF INDIVIDUALISMT Does Naziism do that? I-Iitler's fascism is a direct contradiction to this for he himself is an ABUSIVE INDIVIDUALIST. But where Hitler does conform to Count Ap- ponyi's ideas is in these words taken from the same work, The great danger to a power that has no counterpoise, and is not exposed to free criticism, lies in the fact that its possessor loses his clear vision of the limits of the possible. Human nature is imperfect even in the greatest men and cannot endure an excess of power without giddiness. An article in COLLlER'S said the following: Present political and eco- nomic crises have crowded into the background one of the most significant movements of modern times-THE GROWING ATTEMPT TO CRUSH CHRIS- TIANITY. Today the governments of the countries which contain over a third of all Christians are waging a ruthless war against the Christian Church. How true this is of I-IITLERLAND Cfor one can hardly call it Germanyl. Per- haps Herr Hitler has the interests of his country at heart and believes that Catholicism is not good for his people. Another great German Chancellor once believed that. Bismarck inaugurated a policy of persecution and insult against the Church with all the forces he could muster. With his vain KUL- TURKAMPE, foolishly and blindly he proceeded to strip this age-old Divine Institution of I-Ier rights. History gives us the outcome: Bismarck died, a broken and beaten man. Can it be that Hitler trusts that he can succeed where Bismarck failed Perhaps the Chancellor is ambitious, ambitious to make Germany the all-powerful state on the field of combat and feels that Christendom with I-Ier doctrines of peace and brotherly love stand in his way, ambitious to become the all-mighty emperor of that all-powerful state. Yes, maybe the Chancellor is ambitious-but CAESAR, TOO, WAS AMBITIOUS. PAUL F. MECONI '36 77

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A N N U A L 1 9 3 6 0 ' First Year - Section One ITH our initial year at Cathedral slowly but surely ending we look back over a year in which we have progressed both scholastically and in sports. We have climbed the first step in the ladder of success, at whose top, we hope to find ourselves members of the l-loly Priesthood. We realize that without the help of the Reverend Faculty we could scarcely have succeeded. Any success which we may have attained is due to their tireless efforts. ln writing these class notes I would consider it a good idea for you to become acquainted with some of the boys Meet Mr. Farrell who knows all, sees all and says very littleg Masterson our champion i'Alibi lke p the tDuke himselfl McGurk, Edwards who can draw anything from shoestrings to a mob scene in the lunchroom. Though we have progressed far scholastically, do not think for a moment that sports were forgotten. When practice for the basketball team was an- nounced the candidates came out in droves. Cuneen, Comerford, Woods, Geis and Egan were chosen for a first team and fought mightily for the glory of the class, tasting both victory and defeat. But the basketball season has closed and we must pursue a new field of adventure. Baseball has stepped into the spotlight. Boys of every shape and size are applying for positions on the team. Congratulations to Lennon who made the Prep. When a class team is formed lBl will have a squad of ambitious players. Having told all there is to be told, we must bid adieu. A NEIL QUINLAN lll. First Year - Section Two EPTEMBER 9, l93E5 was the beginning of the scholastic life of some forty- three timid youths at Cathedral. The class soon realized that they must work without a let up. We became aware of the fine spirit of the school and at once set out to make a name for lB2. Football was started and an intense rivalry was felt between the first year classes. The honors on the gridiron were shared equally, each class winning a game. George Schultz was the main factor in our success, but the team on the whole was fairly good. Class officers were elected and the returns showed that George Schultz was President, Geoghan, Vice-President, and Reynolds, Secretary. Unfortu- nately Schultz resigned and George Ruddin was chosen as his successor. Among the members that were chosen to play on the Midget team were: Flynn, Funaro, Connelly, Reid, and Lyden. When the call for Class teams was issued, the basketball talent of our class was exhibited. The team was handi- capped in height, but they made up for it in spirit. Among the players on the team were: Oscar Flynn, Doerflinger, Connelly, Brown, Bernard, Reid, and many other ambitious youths. We are now closing the end of our first year at Cathedral and I imagine the future holds a great many surprises for us. GERARD BRCWN '41 79